Great Ambition unchecked by principle . . . is an unruly Tyrant.

[Hamlette]

The 1800 election is much talked about by historians. A quirk in the electoral college left it in a tie between Jefferson and Burr. Hamilton came to Jefferson's defense although they were polar opposites politically because, as he said:

The danger to the new country, Hamilton argued, wasn’t ideological disputes, but the possibility that an unprincipled man would exploit public passions. He called Burr a latter-day Catiline, the ancient Roman senator who attempted a populist uprising against the Republic. . . .

Some Federalists thought the non-ideological Burr would be more malleable. But, Hamilton countered, a man without theory cannot be “a systematic or able statesman.” Burr is “more cunning than wise .?.?. inferior in real ability to Jefferson,” Hamilton wrote. “Great Ambition unchecked by principle .?.?. is an unruly Tyrant.”

The former Treasury secretary warned that Burr’s trafficking in “the floating passions of the multitude” would lead him to “endeavour to disorganize both parties & to form out of them a third composed of men fitted by their characters to be conspirators.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/hamilton-helped-elect-his-rival-to-keep-an-unruly-tyrant-from-the-presidency-if-only-/2016/12/30/6ebc7f24-ceb6-11e6-a747-d03044780a02_story.html?hpid=hp_no-name_opinion-card-c%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.739f8d972591

Now just who does THAT sound like. I used to think populists were the real heroes. Boy his this election proved that wrong.

[smirkymonkey]

1. "An unprincipled man who will exploit public passions."

My god, it's almost as though he could see it coming.

[elleng]

2. The Founders saw everything 'coming;'

they were very observant of the human condition, and did what they could to build in protections against the worst aspects.

[smirkymonkey]

4. Very wise of them.

Unfortunately, they could not have expected this disaster we presently have on our hands. How do we manage this nightmare?

[elleng]

6. with great difficulty.

[world wide wally]

3. Too bad we don't pay attention to them

[malthaussen]

5. So, great ambition checked by principle...

... is a ruly tyrant, which all-in-all, I think Hamilton would have preferred. There is much to be said for a benevolent despot; unfortunately, there is no way to ensure that a despot will be benevolent.

-- Mal